Iracingones Garage Talk/I

BYE BYE BLANEY?Richard Childress Racing has a press conference scheduled this Saturday afternoon at Lowe's Motor Speedway and speculation is the team will announce current Busch Series driver Clint Bowyer as the new pilot for the team's Jack Daniels No. 07 NEXTEL Cup ride next year.

Bowyer would replace current driver Dave Blaney in a move that could possibly include another full-time Busch season in the team's AC Delco No. 2 in addition to the NEXTEL Cup slate.

EVERNHAM NEWSEvernham Motorsports also has a news conference scheduled at Charlotte this weekend (Erin Crocker?).

RUDD PLANSRicky Rudd has been mum about his plans for 2006 and possible retirement. Reports have the Wood Brothers looking to put young Jon Wood in its No. 21 Motorcraft Ford next season, leaving Rudd without a ride. John Andretti has also been reported as a candidate for the ride. A story circulated in Kansas that Rudd would move over to Roush Racing on a one year deal in 2006 to drive the No. 97 car, being vacated by Kurt Busch, until Jamie McMurray is able to join the team in 2007.

SCHRADER SETKen Schrader will run one more full NEXTEL Cup season in 2006 for BAM Motorsports. Schrader will shift to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2007 joining Mark Martin as two more former NEXTEL Cup regulars finding homes on the truck circuit.

RIGHT AS RAINESTony Raines looks as though he's the new frontrunner for the Roger Staubach-Troy Aikman Hall of Fame Racing ride in 2006. Talks with Ward Burton have snagged according to sources over money.

Raines will be let go by the RJ Motorsports team, who will need a replacement driver for the No. 37 car this weekend in Charlotte.

MORE TV TALKIf ABC/ESPN does join the NASCAR television fold in 2007 (See "TV Deal Near"), indications are the network would bring back longtime announcer Bob Jenkins to pair with Rusty Wallace in the booth, with a third announcer to be named. Pit reporters Dr. Jerry Punch and John Kernan, both from ESPN's successful run of NASCAR telecasts in the 1980s and 1990s, are also under consideration for a return.